By Chris Parker
Dadeville won 15 games last season, which was the most since the program won 16 and a district title in 2015.
Six starters from that team return, including three pitchers who earned some form of postseason honors.
Landon Keathley was named second-team all-district and conference last season as a junior. He was 6-4 on the mound with a 3.76 ERA. He hit .349 with nine doubles, 18 RBI and 19 stolen bases.
Briar Clift earned second-team all-district and honorable mention all-conference honors last season. He posted a 4.89 ERA on the mound while hitting .321 with 27 RBI and 17 stolen bases.
Brayden Keathley was named honorable mention all-state and first-team all-district and all-conference. He had a 1.31 ERA with a .440 batting average at the plate, driving in 21 runs and stealing 28 bases.
Junior Seth Walker will join the three returning all-conference players in the pitching rotation.
Brayden Keathley, Clift and Brittan Jarman (freshman) could all see time at catcher.
A host of players could see time on the infield including: Landon Keathley, Brittan Jarman, Briar Clift, Wiley Proctor, Rowan Schedler, Brayden Keathley, Seth Walker, Payton Crawford, Chayse Coose, Lain Tevis, Ashton Edwards, Wriston Worthington and Ben Groose.
Kaleb Getman, Coose, Edwards, Gaige Mead, Walker, Clift, Walker, Crawford and Worthington could all see time in the outfield.
“I believe our strength should still be in our team offense. Our hitting and baserunning numbers have increased in almost every category the past three years,” Dadeville head coach Brent Rountree said. “Defense and pitching win big games. We will need to improve in both those areas to be playing late in the post-season.”
Dadeville opens the season on Mar. 20 at home against Marion C. Early.
